GEORGE TOWN: IF home is where the heart is, then Amanda Somar Mahtani, 28, has found her home in Malaysia.
Moving to Malaysia from Guyana, South America, with her parents in 1998, she said she did not expect to stay here for long, much less find love and a home in Malaysia.
“It was a 72-hour journey to Malaysia. When I got to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, I was exhausted and jet-lagged,” she said.
“As it was my first time in Asia, the first few days were very confusing. But, within a short time, I was able to adapt to the friendly and courteous Malaysian culture.”
Waking up to the beautiful seas of Penang every day, life is wonderful for Amanda, who completed her secondary education at an international school and post-graduate education at a college in Penang.
She said she chose to complete her post-graduate education in Malaysia as the country’s education system was excellent.
Her choice led her to her life partner, Deepak Ramji.
“We met, fell in love and are now planning our wedding,” she said.
Amanda recently started a luxury tailoring business at Cititel Hotel Penang.
“Business is good. There is a diverse group of customers, from locals to foreigners, and importing textiles such as English and Italian wool is easy, thanks to Malaysia’s good international relations.
“It is an ideal place to live in, where everything is easy and safe, and the quality of life is good.”
Another foreigner who has made his home here is retired professional photographer Thomas Bauer.
Bauer, 66, who lives in Batu Ferringhi is envied by family and friends back in Germany as he wakes up to beautiful vistas of the Andaman Sea and lush tropical forest.
“The amazing thing about looking out of my balcony is it is different every single day. It is like a painting which changes perpetually,” he said.
Describing Penang’s weather as heavenly, he said he does not miss his hometown of Karlsruhe by the Rhine river. He came to Malaysia to visit his best friend, Karl Ebinger, in 2007. He was smitten and vowed to retire here in 2010.
“Karl had lived in Penang for a very long time and he had asked me to come earlier.
“When I got here, I asked myself why I didn’t come here sooner?”
Bauer has developed a love for the people and the local Chinese fare.
“I love char koay teow,” he said.
Bauer, who is divorced with two daughters, wants to spend the rest of his life here.
He has found himself a girlfriend and helps her with her organic food business. He helps to deliver goods and knows Penang like the back of his hand.
“There is so much of freedom here compared to where I come from. This is what I want.”
Recalling an unforgettable incident where he experienced typical Malaysian kindness, he said: “I was riding my motorcycle on the winding roads of Batu Ferringhi some years back and ran out of fuel.
“Minutes later, a man came up, and without questioning, funnelled fuel from his bike to mine.
I offered him some money but he declined it.
“In Germany, you can wait by the roadside for hours. Nobody is that kind.”